High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - If You Want More Pods, the Phils Better Win

Episode Date: May 12, 2022

James and Jack react to the Phillies taking 2 of 3 from the Mariners. Sadly, they also talk about the worst Phillies loss in years. They talk about those two things and other fun baseball things and the always anticipated "more." Enjoy. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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WIP. Yo! Oh, it is another edition of the iOS podcast. I started to go a little loud there, and then I remembered that I was sleeping. And I also, you know, we haven't done a pod since some really horrible things have happened with Phillies. But hey, Jack, two of three, right, buddy? Two of three, you know?

I will say that no one has better timing on when to do a podcast than you and I. Oh, yeah. I mean, the analytics hold true. They hold strong, you know? They do. They do. It's good. Listen.

Everything's fine. Everything's good. Last. Everything's fine. Everything's good. Last Thursday night did not happen. So that's... Oh, we're going with that? We're just going to... See, what I was going to say, because I knew you were going to do this, and that's like, you know, high ups tradition and all that, and I respect it and I love it.

But, you know, I think that sometimes there are things that are so horrible and so devastatingly horrendous that we just we can't even do the bit. You know, we I know we listen. We have to let them see the light of day that they deserve because they are that horrible. And everyone has to know our pain, Jack. Yeah. So here's the thing is that i am here's my official statement i can't wait for this because you know the best part about the the one of the few enjoyable parts of the meltdown whip for me which is not many is just constantly checking on jack throughout and jack telling me all the people that are constantly checking on him throughout.

Like it's, it's a, it was, you know, it was a wild ride just for Jack. I'm sure. I will say the brand was pretty strong. I mean,

everyone was, was checking in to make sure I was doing okay, which I guess is a good sign. But yeah, you have thoroughly shown people that your well-being is tied to this baseball team. So I think that's the big takeaway here. Very proud. I'm sure Jill is just thrilled with that outcome.

Yeah, it's great. So I can't get last as much as I would, I literally, I can't get last Thursday out of my head. Well, that was a problem with the 9-0 game, right? Why did you just talk like that? Because I took a sip of something and I got excited to say something. Like I've never, I couldn't tell if your mic was messed up, but all of a sudden you're like,

I still had, ironically enough, seltzer in my throat still. Oh, come on. You don't drink seltzer, do you? I'm drinking a vintage lemon seltzer right now. I love the vintage. Is it Schweppes or what brand is it? No, it's vintage. It's vintage.

It's like the cheapo brand, but it's the best. It's the best. It's the best. It's the most authentic. Well, hopefully they don't sponsor the podcast. I mean, the fact that you would just lay that out. Well, I love it. It's the one I choose to drink. I would absolutely recommend it.

Hey, vintage, come on in. I'll sell your stuff. I'll change the image. You needed it. Right. Yeah, it's crazy but yeah that anyway what i was saying before i went full um i don't know muppet or whatever was uh was that's like the nine nothing game that whole game as they take the lead and you know throw up six nothing

and then it's seven nothing and then it's nine nothing like that whole time i i didn't feel safe going to bed because of the seven one game and and like i felt it jack and it's hard not to and that that night was just brutal uh i did not handle it well um you know i it's been a long time i will say that since i have full-on like yelled at the tv and like hit under a blanket, that's where I was. And to make matters worse, James is that,

um, you know, Thursday night happened and I obviously didn't want to talk to anyone, did not want to, um, you know, do a podcast or do a reaction video because like, like I genuinely, like you and and i like we genuinely care about the

phillies and like we just that was one of those nights where i was like i can't even talk about them i don't even want to talk about them i don't even want to think about them it legit took me two days to get over that game like i swear to god like i i didn't want to even think about them on friday and then to make matters worse is that I went to a wedding on Friday night. And of course, like it's all my college buddies. Oh, how about that game? And yada, yada, yada. But the worst part was that one of my best friends was in the wedding party.

And I was not. I was sitting in the stands. I guess that stands is not the right term. No was not, I was sitting in the, in the, uh, the stands. I guess that stands is not the right term. No, but no, it's not. I was sitting in the, uh,

during the chairs, the chairs or the pews or whatever. Yeah. I was, it was not a church. I was sitting, I was sitting in the crowd. Okay.

Chairs. Chairs is probably the most appropriate word. And my body comes walking out and he's about to walk down like the aisle to finish the like the the groomsmen coming out for the wedding and he just kind of shoots me a look and smiles and he's a Mets fan and like I just I really wanted to leave yeah no I really I wanted to go home so that immediately ruined my night and I wasn't able to bounce back but it happened thank

God the next two nights were rained out so we didn't have to sit through it buddy I honestly I don't know if I would have watched I would like I would have had to but I don't know if I could have I was screw that I was so upset I was like I can't watch

and the two days are so needed. They were so needed. Yeah, they were. Oh, now I caught you. This is the pot of us getting caught drinking. Yeah.

You got caught. Well, first off, I'm not used to you not talking. So the fact that you just talked, I was just complimenting what you were saying. I thought you had more to say, you know,

kept it within 10 seconds. no no but so yeah friday saturday getting rained out was like delightful honestly it was like the biggest weight had been lifted off my shoulders and hey james the last time a phil's game was delayed by two days what happened oh look at you buddy look at how it's only you only you could turn the worst you know i mean obviously like i guess regular season loss whatever you're gonna call it like the worst ninth inning blown game whatever you want to call it in 25 years or whatever it is or 28 years in philly's history i think it was 25 years in philly's history only you could take that and find a way to connect it to the world series only you you are literally the only human being alive

not only the only human being who could who has the ability to do it you're also the only human being who would ever consider to do it so this is really kind of a unique moment on the VOD. Yeah. Dude, they literally hadn't done what they had done on last Thursday since I was two months old. Oh, no. Like, it's been 28 years since they pulled what they had pulled. I was two months old. And I will say, when I was two months old witnessing that Phillies collapse, I was probably thinking about this podcast and what I would say 28 years later. So, yeah.

And I was in college, right? So I was definitely thinking about it. Oh, no. I thought it was at least your your your senior year maybe you know it was at least your 10-year reunion but um yeah no it was brutal and the fact that we're doing it the fact that we're doing this podcast almost a week later and we still aren't really over it really says how painful like that definitely trumps 19 to 11 and i do think i do think it is uh a bit annoying that the phillies had to have the worst meltdown they've had in most of our lives

literally two days after we did the podcast of their worst losses yeah well i don't know them getting no hit last friday night uh that was the basis of it i didn't want to i didn't want to say it but you know some people are saying that it's your fault like i didn't want to i didn't want to say it but since you brought it up you know i don't know i've heard some rumblings some people are blaming it on you i'm just saying yeah no and and and i get that i i guess I just don't understand. I got two big questions for the man upstairs, right? Is that Joe Girardi? Is that Dombrowski?

No, this is for the big man. The big man upstairs. Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha. Yeah, we're taking this to a holistic level. Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha. My big two questions are, like, one, what did we as Phillies fans do to deserve this, right? Like, 11 years, no playoffs, a loss like that.

What were we – what's so bad about Phillies fans? Like, I think we're, for the most part, generally calm. We're passionate. We show up when the team's good. We don't when the team's not. There's been worse fan bases. There's been, you know, I don't get what we did to deserve the last 11 years of pain. And my second big question to the big man upstairs is upstairs is like why did i have to become a mush you know like i i what why me i i i played baseball i watched a ton of baseball i researched

a ton of baseball i genuinely believe i know what i'm talking about like why, why me? Why do I have to be the mush? Why do I have to be the guy that could be a sole reason as to why this team has been held back for so long? You know, I mean, we started this podcast in 2017, and they haven't won anything since, and they haven't even been close to. Like, the highlights of the last four years are an Altair Grand Slam off of Kershaw, Pavetta's complete game against the Reds, Bryce Harper's walk-off against the Cubs.

Yeah, Harper's Grand Slam. I guess we'll work Bryson. Luke Williams' home run, I'll fight for that one. That's how sad it is that I'll fight that that's on the list. That was beautiful, man. I know. You get very weepy eyes thinking about the Luke Williams walk-off. That's what sports are about, man. I know. You get very weepy eyes thinking about the loophole. It's what sports are about, Jack.

That was a beautiful story with his family in the stands in the interview after. I know. You're getting wistful thinking about it right now. This is what happens when you get old, Jack. Well, because you think that one day that could be

Zoe. No, I do not. Trust me, I do she is it's pretty funny though she is obsessed with winning like she loves she's a winner yeah she loves to like she loves racing she's like loves to be the first to the door like she loves to be the first downstairs like she's like a maniac about winning so we'll see where that goes well where did she get that from i like to win winning's good i know well just hearing her just hearing you explain how she needs to be the first downstairs needs to do this needs to yeah whatever i was like oh she's definitely self yeah she's she's uh she's pretty uh she's pretty intense which you know she definitely doesn't get from Emily.

She definitely doesn't get that from Emily. I just can't wait. I can't wait for the first time that Zoe Jordan fist bumps or like Derek Jeter. Yeah, the Jeter fist bump from Zoe is going to be remarkable. She's lefty too, which is like infinitely cooler. I mean, I can't wait to see her throwing stuff left-handed, batting left-handed, doing whatever left-handed, kicking a soccer ball left-footed.

It's going to be great. It really is. As someone who is right-handed, it was such a thrill. Honestly, it's one of the coolest things that I didn't see coming because I'm righty, Emily's righty. I just never really thought about it. Obviously obviously you just don't think about it and she's been a stone cold lefty her whole life and it's awesome i love it man man your 40s sound wild i know i know how does it real quick a quick diversion oh yeah that's what we do here. Yeah, quick diversions. How does it make you feel that known loser Ben Simmons is also a lefty?

Yeah, well, I mean, who knows what he is? He's a coward. Zoe's not a coward. Zoe would go out and play. Well, I mean, the way you're explaining Zoe, it sounds like she's a winner, which is good to hear. Big-time winner. Yeah, love that. She's got big-time Fritz energy, you know what I'm saying? I mean, the way you're explaining Zoe, it sounds like she's a winner. Yeah. Which is good to hear. Big time winner. Yeah.

Love that. She's got big time Fritz energy. You know what I'm saying? I agree, man. I mean, I might be a massive loser in most circumstances, but on most cases, I feel like I'm a winner. Yeah. You're a mush, though.

That is weird. Yeah, but that's what I'm saying. I mean, you pretty much single-handedly ruined Kyle Schwarber's career. Not his money. He got paid, but he ruined him as a baseball player somehow, too. People don't give you enough credit. They're crediting you for the, you know, all-time bad loss, the seven runs and the ninth loss,

but they should be giving you more credit for ruining Schwarber somehow. Not even Kevin Long had the power to stop you from ruining Schwarber. Not even Kevin Long had the power to stop you from ruining Schwarber. You thought my powers were only for use on Nick Pavetta, but it turns out it affects the whole roster. If Schwarber can, frankly, if Schwarber can overcome this, he can pretty much overcome anything. And maybe if they take him out of the leadoff spot,

he can get back to where we need him to get back to yeah all right so uh let's back to baseball that was that was a diversion but um so let's move on i think the fact that we it would like you said it was a week ago and we spent the first 15 minutes of this podcast talking about the the to this podcast talking about the the disaster loss like very on brand and also um shows how much it it crushed us i want to get to some like specific players but just quickly your thoughts on you know since the disaster loss and let's say the two rain delay day set you know uh reset type of thing um what have you thought about how they've responded as a team? Obviously, they win the series in Seattle. They split the doubleheader. I know you're definitely probably more positive than most

because you always are. But how do you feel right now? Let me ask you something before I answer that. Okay, good. I like that. How do you think I feel right now i think you feel like everything's fine listen nobody's better at calming the entire fan base down than me um but here's the thing is that i know they lost on th night, but they did play good baseball. I know.

I know. Don't you dare. Don't you dare. Listen, I will. I will. If we don't, we don't on this podcast. Don't make me do that. I can tell you already. Don't make me do that.

No, no. Honestly, James, like I am. I am frustrated like everyone else. You know, I don't think anyone loves the Phillies as much as we and our listeners love the Phillies. Like it's, it's frankly what we do, what we love and,

and what we care about the most. And yeah, I, I've definitely been frustrated with this season. Um, I think the thing that actually frustrates me the most is like when you see an offensive game plan, like they had in the first eight innings of the Mets game,

like they had against Jersey where they had 10 hits, like they had in game one of the series where they had 17 hits. And it's like, thank God, you know? I mean, that's what you can do to win baseball games and not always wait around for the beginning. And what has frustrated me, honestly, more than anything, it's like the games really go away from that for no reason. It's like, oh, you just didn't feel like playing today. You just wanted to get away and go do what you do.

But overall, I do feel like they're playing good baseball. I do. I thought the Chargers game was important. The second game, they started Chris Sanchez. Girardi left Nick Nelson in too late. Yada, yada, yada yada yada Pete Alonzo hit two home runs um any Pete Alonzo success is is a is an awful day for for me and everyone else out there so um I thought they played really well Monday night obviously they

pounded out 17 hits and won nine nothing um you know Ranger was good you know Ranger there was a spot in that third inning where I kind of felt like he was about to unravel a little bit. But actually, credit to our guy JT, went out to the mound. And ever since he went out to the mound side and not staying on plane. When Ranger's at his best, he's finishing at the hitter rather than falling off to the hitter, especially a righty. So I thought he did a good job getting back on plane and grinding his way through six innings on Monday night. And then I thought Nola, again, I thought Nola was really good on Tuesday. So, you know, if you want it for signs of hope, I guess, you know, I legitimately haven't felt this good about Aaron Nola since, like, the first couple starts in 2019.

You know, I think he is way closer at this point to being back to the 2018-2019 version than the guy that we've seen for the last season and a half. I know he got kind of bled to death, and that game on Tuesday night, James, might have been the most frustrating first five innings of a baseball game I've ever experienced in my entire life. It was just like, how is that falling in for a hit? How are these balls not going out of the yard? It was just like, how is that falling in for a hit? How are these balls not going out of the yard? It was awful. But legitimately, I don't think I've seen his fastball command be that good in a couple years.

When Noah's going right, it's dotting that fastball to the outside corner against righties. Because there's nothing that a right-handed hitter can really do with that pitch because it usually starts outside the strike zone and ends up there or when he started in that two seamer at a guy's you know hip or or shoulder and letting it run back so the fact that he had that kind of command you know I had been wondering if they had changed the game plan with Nola the last couple days days or last couple of starts where they had enough fastball start upper in the zone. So you work the curveball off it. His last start on Tuesday night was, was back to the Nola that we'd seen in the last couple of years. And that to me is four straight, really, really good Aaron Nola starts. So you asked me where I'm at and I'm, I'm sort of in a holding pattern. I feel good about how they're playing.

I thought they largely outplayed the Mets. I think the Mariners are a talented team, but they're definitely not great. A lot of 180 to 200 hitters in that lineup, so I'm glad they're going to work their way through that. I'm sort of in a holding pattern. I don't think the sky is falling. I don't think they're playing amazing baseball. But I am trending towards their playing good baseball.

And as long as they keep up playing good, consistent baseball, they should be able to stay in this thing. Yeah, I'm kind of where you're at for the most part. I think, you know, obviously that loss is tough. And I do think that as a team, they need to really learn how to win in something we've talked about so many times. They definitely certainly have not put it together, especially when you contrast them with a team like the Mets,

who is also a team with a lot of new pieces and a lot of new parts. But with Scherzer and Lindor and Marte and all these guys, it's clearly working, and they definitely have a real vibe about them. And they're showing they know how to win games. And I think they're for real, which is incredibly frustrating. And honestly, my concern in terms of this season is far more about the Mets being good and the whole Phillies have dug themselves in the division than it is for the Phillies not being able to figure it out

and become a much better baseball team and be a playoff team. Look, there are three wild cards now. But I think I definitely saw how you tweeted, like, I think two times in 10 minutes is like the most annoying baseball game of all time. Like, you were so frustrated. So I definitely felt you on that. And I agree with you on Nola. I think, you know, he really kind of got killed with some dribblers in that game

and seeing eye single type stuff. And obviously the Rees play at first. We'll get into Girardi finally showing a false check for it. But, you know, I think, you know, that clearly should have been an out. Clearly. I mean, I think that was such an absolutely horrendous call. I have no idea why you couldn't review it. It's such a weird situation, but I want to get to Girardi's tech.

But I'm generally with you, I think, on Nola for sure. I think in general you should feel good about the pitching with this team. I mean, the rotation has looked really good. I mean, what you've gotten out of Gibby has been way more than you can ask for. Rangers seems to be figuring it out. Clearly his best start of the season. And like you said worked out jams like in the third and in the fifth i think kind of got into the jam there and got out of that um i thought he looked great you know for the most part comparatively and wheeler obviously he's going to be back tomorrow which is great news

off the covet list he had the you know a great outing the last outing you know was it seven and two-thirds shutout or whatever so you know I think and Nola like you said I think you know Eflin's really the only one who hasn't looked great and you know the bullpen's been solid for the most part obviously a very conspicuous blow up in a particular spot but for the most part you know they've been they've been pretty solid it's just the inconsistency of the offense and it's funny funny because they've shown they can mash and they can rake and what it can look like like if you look at and you should take a look do yourself i don't know if favor is the right word but do yourself a solid as a as a baseball fan and look at like the the team numbers numbers on fan graphs or whatever and go look

and see Team OBP, Team OPS, Team WOBA, all that stuff. It's unbelievable how down offense is. We've joked about the dead ball era, but it's nuts. But the thing that'll surprise you is that the Phillies are top five to ten in a lot of offensive categories. OPS runs all this stuff. And it certainly hasn't felt like that type of offense, but it's because they've had these massive, huge games. And then they've had a bunch of games where they don't score a runner. They score one run. And that inconsistency has been what's most frustrating. So I generally feel the

same way as you. And I think that that inconsistency will correct itself over the course of the season as they get better and look like we talked about. They're not all going to be hot at the same time, but I think they're going to get to a point where they at least bring it more on a night-to-night, or they better get to a point where they bring it more on a night-to-night basis. Look, the doubleheader, I don't think anyone on the planet expected them to win the doubleheader. Winning that Scherzer game and not allowing a massive comeback, you know, Knievel shutting it down was just, it was massive. It was the biggest

win of the season, you know, as lame as that is. All right. I mean, seriously, right? I mean, it was, and that's super lame. Super lame. Especially when you lose the next one, 6-1. But they won a series here. They won a road series, like you said, against a solid team. They beat Logan Gilbert today. I mean, they didn't hit a lot, but they beat Logan Gilbert. I mean, that dude's freaking nasty.

So, you know, with Bailey Falter looking good. You know, Bailey Falter beat Logan Gilbert. Baseball's weird. All right, I want to get to some specific guys, a bunch of them actually. And then I'm sure you had something to take back, but, um, we joked before about it, but, but honestly, you know, where you at on, on Schwarber? I mean, you know, it's very easy to say, Hey, he's a, a street guy who's going to get high. If you look at his numbers from last year, he was at this time last year, batting like 200 and he ended at 266 at the end of the season and obviously a bunch of home runs in there too but you know it's it's a tough watch right now you know he is he looks pretty

lost up there and you know over in the series in seattle a ton of k's where Where are you at? I mean, I'm definitely frustrated. It's hard not to be annoyed. Because he's a better offensive player than this. I will say, though, I think he's going to be one of those guys where you kind of have to separate the average from the production. He does lead the Phillies and home runs and rbi and and if you if you went from i believe april 18th on um he is about an 850 ops uh before this series obviously this series freaking killed it um and the thing is is like should not be in the leadoff

spot i mean it's frustrating because they signed him to be in the leadoff spot but it's just killing you um and and especially late in games when teams will bring in a lefty reliever just so it'll be um you get schwarber out then you have boom which is like he's bad over 300 but still and then you have a lefty to face Bryce. So just from that standpoint, you got to drop him down. And when you go to like his numbers, I mean, out of the six hole, he's batting 314 with a 1200 OPS. And he has five home runs out of the six hole. He has one homer out of the leadoff spot batting 121. So he has 14 starts at the leadoff spot batting 121 so he he has 14 starts uh he has 14 starts at

the leadoff spot he's batting 121 with a 207 slugging percentage um in the sixth hole he's batting 314 with an 800 slugging percentage and a 1255 ops so um it's just it's killing them it's killing them I I don't know like I I I genuinely James people ask me like what do you do with the leadoff spot and I I have no answer because there's not a good answer on the roster it was supposed to be Schwarber but but he's killing them, and he's been very productive lower in the lineup. You know, do you just take the one out and say, here, there you go. Just take your one out, and we can move on to the second out and get this inning started. That's how I feel about where we're at with the leadoff position.

I think the position as a whole, they're batting like 130 for the whole production there. So what I would do, I don't want to move Segura because I think he's kind of found his little spot there in towards the bottom of the lineup and looks legitimately great. And he also struggled from leadoff spot, but I would put Boehm there. I think Boehm has worked consistent at bats. It seems like he can get to a 3-1, 3-2 count when he wants. It's not like he's been driving the ball out of the ballpark,

but he is still putting the bat on the baseball. He's batting over 300. So put the bat on the baseball, make hard contact, work in a bat a little bit. I would put Boehm there for the time being and let everything else kind of work its way down. I would put Boehm there for the time being and let everything else kind of work its way down. This sounds like a very anti-analytical

and, frankly, sort of a dumb idea. But what about just putting Roman there against lefties? And worst-case scenario is he lays a bunt down and tries to make something happen, and all of a sudden there's pressure on the defense. Can someone teach him to bunt? That would be cool. Right.

I mean, he's batting one out of three in the Hall of Fame, according to our manager. I mean, it's unbelievable. I've never seen someone who should have learned how to bunt from the time he was a tiny little guy, learned how to bunt aggressively and competitively, be such a horrendous I mean he pumped I feel like he bumped bunts out for a third strike like all the time he's brutal

yeah but if you're looking for a guy that hey if he if he can work a walk he can he can get on second and third yeah he's a game changer as soon as he gets on base yeah and believe me like it's not like I want Roman to be a leadoff player. No, honestly, I'm not hating on the idea. I was just kind of joking about the bunt thing and not wondering why he has been able to learn how to bunt better. It makes no sense. Yeah, and it's frustrating.

But at least it's almost like taking an automatic out and just putting it at the leadoff spot. But at least with that scenario, everyone else kind of stays in their positions that they've kind of gotten comfortable with. It lets Schwarber go down the lineup. It lengthens the whole thing. You know, it's obviously not the best case scenario, but at least it puts some pressure on opposing defenses from the first pitch of the baseball game.

So if they don't do that, I do like the idea of Boehm. I think he only did it once this year. And he did a good job. Overall, in the two-hole, he's done a good job of consistently working pitchers and making hard contact. So, you know, I guess we'll kind of throw our hands up in the air. Why don't they just throw a dart at a dartboard? I mean, that would probably work.

Yeah, I mean, it is astounding how bad, and it's certainly one of the reasons the offense is not consistency. It matters. I mean, honestly, and they're not going to do it, and I'm not even saying they should do it, but by far the best candidate for the leadoff spot in terms of just ability and skill set and all that is bryce obviously you know i don't yeah yeah i mean he's like if you just look at no i agree but you look at the line and say

all right who's the best lead outfitter in this time and is bryce by a mile like you could almost make an argument that how bad the leadoff spot has been whoever you put in the third hole whether it's you know cassianos or if you bring schwarber up and put put schwarber up there somewhere whatever like that you know it couldn't be worse comparatively you know between the two spots but i agree i wouldn't i wouldn't do it arper you know let harper stay where he's at he's a he's a three hitter i i'm fine with it but i mean there is no one i agree with you and it is a problem i don't i don't love the bowl my idea candidly like I don't hate it I get it I like him in the tool I think he's done a nice job there like you said working

at bats he doesn't walk a ton like he's not like a huge well like you know like JT I wish he walked more because you made that point a while back and I think he was in the leadoff hole for like one game or two maybe when they were kind of jumping people around but he does make sense from the base running perspective and he has been doing a nice job of getting the bat on the ball this year and all that but he just doesn't work the at-bat quite enough and and you know walking off so um i uh i i don't know what the answer is i'm with you and maybe that maybe that's something you know you you get at the trade deadline. We think so much about pitching, pitching, pitching,

and I'm sure a reliever, a high-end guy or whatever, who knows what we're going to want at the trade deadline. But if this team is in it and is competing, maybe they trade for a center fielder who's a more prototypical leadoff guy or someone who makes more sense there. But obviously you would think that if they're going to be in it, they have to get better production out of that spot. So we'll see.

Which position is more cursed? Is it center field or the leadoff spot? I mean, sometimes they're one and the same. Sometimes they are. I think it's center field. I mean, center field. sometimes they are i think it's centerfield i mean centerfield it's i mean to come off last year it was at 091 for the april last year and then whatever it's been one something this april and then you know obviously a little bit better may but um i mean it's especially when

you're out in the defensive side considering the importance of the position i mean the the defensive talent that they and then especially when you take into account the bryce dhing thing and the you know severe lack of range that castellanos and schwerber have as your corner outfielders and you know credit to those guys those guys have gone out there every day and really give it all castellanos that dive and play the other night in Seattle, I was like, my dude, way to go. Oh, come on. Great play.

Great play. Doesn't he just look like a newborn deer every time? Oh, he's horrible out there. He is a disaster. He has no arm, and Schwarber has no arm. It's horrible. I mean, you could make an argument that the most important defensive thing there, the most important thing this team needs is a guy who could just, you know,

Kiermaier it out there and say, all right, guys, I'll take two-thirds of the outfield. Just cover your bleeping spot. All right? Like, you don't have to move. I'll get the rest. You know, like one of those guys. And if it could be a leadoff guy, that would be cool too. But I think to go back to your question, I think center field,

the bigger, more current spot. And real quick, not to go back to 7-1 again. What are you doing, dude? We moved on. It will come up later. No, don't worry. Oh, I forgot we had top five too. We got to take back that should

i just thought we're never gonna get to everything i have on my list at this point no i just keep going that's right um but real quick on 701 i felt like i was taking crazy pills how did udubel escape any criticism oh yeah great point great for like how does he not get to that ball it was up there forever it didn't even hit the bottom of the wall, which means that obviously you could have caught it before then. And he wasn't even close to it. He stinks. He stinks as an outfielder.

He's a horrible outfielder. He really is. The one, I don't remember what game it was, but the one just drop he had where it just went off his glove was just, I mean, unconscionable. That can't happen. I can't believe he's still here. I really can't. Honestly, it believe he's still here i really i honestly it

breaks my soul every time i see him it's it's just no fun we talk you know it's our thing sports are supposed to be fun baseball is supposed to be fun we choose to do this you know this sick thing and i meant to make this point before when you're like what what did we do you know god what did we do to deserve the last 11 years what did we do to deserve everything that's happened since 1883 i mean since 1883 they've had you know two prolonged stretches of success and then you know a couple off years and you know i mean it's it's it's insane losing his franchise they go from was i don't have the stats off the top of my head. It was like 30-something years or whatever where they were under 500, I think.

It was something insane like that. It was something like they went from 1918. Maybe like the Wiz kids or something like that, yeah. I'm pretty sure they went from 1918 to 1947 without making the playoffs or something like that.

Yeah, and no i think it wasn't just that i think they were under 500 all those years too it's nuts i mean it's nuts so you know what do we do for all that so we choose to do this and you know it's not fun watching that dude play it's not it's just not and i and again like we've made our points very clear we don't you know the off field stuff bothers us, and we hate it because of that. But even if you were to take that out, which we don't, but even if you were, it just sucks watching him play baseball. He's like such a—even if that stuff never happened,

he would be the most annoying player on the team because of the stuff we're talking about, because of the dumb defensive plays, the dumb base running, the bat flipping, a fly out. Like, oh, it's just super annoying. He's so annoying. Yeah, and it's so funny because he's, of course, doing the classical DuBois thing where it's like the first three weeks

where he's back. It's like, oh, my God, he's batting 340. And then now he's already back down to 300. And in about two weeks, he'll be back down in the 240 we know how this goes we've seen this movie we've seen this story already we know it we know the ending um all right a couple more things i want to get to and then we'll get to your tape bag and then your top five which is i love that you've you've just added a top five to the podcast i didn't do one today in all fairness oh on the radio good well i'm happy that's nice

just come very happy we get to you know make sure we've you know satiate your need well the thing about the top fives on the podcast is that they're they're like very our podcast yes if i try to do these on the radio it'd be like meltdown city um and like no one would understand what i'm talking about so it's a different it's a different uh brand i guess i i just like that you like found a way to maneuver it into the podcast i think it's fantastic it's called content yeah um all right um i'm just gonna do two other things And then we'll get to We'll get to your stuff then Just two other quick ones Also quickly let me just say

Because I have it on my list And I'm just going to say it very quickly We don't curse on this podcast Bleep West Coast games I don't care what you say Jack West Coast games suck I'm so tired right now I'm so tired

I was up until one in the morning, back to back nights. I didn't even make it to the end of the one last night. Like I made it to the end of the, the, the nine nothing game. And then last night I fell asleep in bed at the very end. And I was like, Oh God, did I, I fell asleep in the bottom of the ninth inning or the top of the ninth, excuse me. And I, you know, it's too late. I'm too tired,'m too tired jack so i i i will fight to the death that west coast games suck all right well i don't i it it truly truly pains me to do this but we gotta call the fraud watch on you like i mean i mean oh you stayed up for both did you all of oh no i i fell asleep on the couch in the night last night.

So but I'm not but I'm not a fraud. You are a fraud. So no. So here's my official statement on on the West Coast games. I like watching them because I don't watch much West Coast baseball. And I do genuinely believe that the real ones stay up for it. And frankly, if I could, I would. But what I've learned to love about the West Coast games

is I can usually fall asleep in the seventh and then wake up for the ninth, which you don't get on most East Coast games. So I don't hate West Coast games. I don't share in your disdain because I do. I'll revise my statement. I'm fine with weekend West Coast games. Friday and Saturday. We got a weekend of games for you, pal.

Love it. Friday and Saturday night West Coast games, all in. Big fan. No complaints. During the week, I'm tired. All right? That's all I got to say. Listen,

you, you got a lot going on. I will say I did stay up for most of Monday night after getting an hour and a half sleep on Monday morning. So it's, it's just about toughening it out at that point. And I don't want to be a hero, but I think that's a heroic performance watching a baseball game.

Oh yes. We're, we're all very impressed with you. Everyone is. But yeah, performance watching a baseball game oh yes we're all very impressed with you everyone is but yeah my love of west coast games is definitely soured as i've gotten older that's that's all i want to hear it'll that won't change it will only continue um all right two other things um reese real quick we can't talk this whole time without just mentioning you know uh obviously a disastrous start to the season the you know really the worst him and schwerber is the biggest kind of

struggle players you would look at in the lineup and had a had a yeah i mean it had a great series had a great series in uh in seattle three homers a homer in each game um you know the opposite field rBI single was nice. The double the first night or whatever it was. In the Mets game, you had the double on Sunday and you're like, opposite field double. That's starting to get going a little bit.

Is Reeves back? For now. It's always for now with him. Are we getting a 20-game stretch or something? Yeah, I mean, I think that's fair. You know, it's funny, like, when Reese is going through it and being brutal, it's like he's sinking your team.

But when he's hot, it's also like, okay, we can go win. We can rattle off, like, 10 out of 14. So, yeah, he's just insane. And what's kind of been annoying so far for this season with Reese is that I felt like last year, I know he had the 0 for 35 streak or whatever. But other than that, I felt like he was pretty consistent. I felt like we were finally like, all right, here you go. You're putting it together.

You're consistently thinking right center field gap. And Reese was really productive until he got hurt last year. And so far through this season, it just hasn't been the case. You know, that freaking Sunday Met Series, it's like first inning he came up with runners in second and third or whatever. And then later in the game, he came up with runners on first and second and just did nothing. Like weak pop-ups. So I was definitely frustrated with reese um you know i feel like it's funny like i feel like i'm tougher on the homegrown guys that

aren't living up to the standards that we had set for them um which is kind of the blessing and the curse of being a home run homegrown guy um but so yeah it seems like he could definitely be going on one of those reese hoskins terrors and frankly james like he could definitely be going on one of those Reese Hoskins terrors. And frankly, James, like he should have had three homers in just last night's game in general. I mean, he had three balls that were hit to the warning track and they didn't get out until the one later. Or he had two balls at the warning track and the one later got out. So that was good to say. later got out so that was good to say um but yeah and the beauty of this offense on paper or how it was designed is that it should allow for two guys to be hot at the same time and a

couple guys being not as hot so right now we're going through the the reese and gene hot streak and good you know they you're gonna need that to need that. But there's so much. Yeah. There's so much depth in this lineup that, you know, when those guys cool off, then someone else should be able to step up. And there shouldn't be really a down period for this offense. And that's what's been so frustrating. It's like some guys will be hot,

but then the other guys will just be so dead that it won't even matter. So, you know, you hope that the Reese Jean hot streak continues here for a little bit heading into L.A., and we can get a good series out there. Yeah, it would be huge. I think that's, you know, and you hope that the valleys aren't so low all the time and the peaks are as high as they usually are. But, you know, this is just the guy he is. He's an incredibly streaky player.

And when he's hot, he's hot. Let's hope he's not. All right. The other thing before we get to the take back last thing, I mentioned before we got to talk about it. I mean, Joe Girardi actually showing a pulse. And he was right. I mean, that was a horrendous call. And I don't know why he can't challenge it.

I said it before, but, I mean, it was in his glove, and his foot's on the base. That's the way the game works, right? Like, can you just always slap the ball out of the guy's glove? If it's a bang-bang play, should I be running with a hand and trying to slap it out? It was so dumb. Like, what are we doing here? But outside of that, I don't really care about the call. Like, it is what it is.

It's baseball. Outside of that, I don't really care about the call. It is what it is. It's baseball. But Girardi, usually I give you the chance to give the official statement first on your official statement on Joe Girardi actually not being dead, not being missing, not being somewhere else while some mannequin of him was at the games. He's actually alive at these games. There is a pulse. Here's my official statement. I appreciated it at the games. He's actually alive at these games. There is a pulse. Here's my official statement.

I appreciated it in the moment. I appreciated knowing that he's actually watching the games and paying attention. That made me a little happy. I also don't care, and I still hate him. Jack, what's your statement? My official statement is that I really hope that he has a good seat next year for the Oscars. And then I,

I do hope that he does get rewarded for that performance. Um, it really, it felt pretty, it felt pretty Oscars. He, um, it felt like he's like,

Oh, I guess I got to get thrown out of this game. Uh, so yeah, listen, it was, it was, uh, a righteous gripe

I'm glad he went out there um I would like to see more of it obviously I would like for him to to act like he wants to be here which is a a big step up from you know what we've seen in in years i guess passed um but he was right like and i don't know about you i i genuinely love seeing managers get thrown out of games i think it's one of the most it's great it's great i wish the ump had been more boisterous in his tossing uh there's nothing well hold on i was gonna say there's nothing better there's almost nothing better than an ump like you know doing the full-on you know you're out of here one of those like really get that the arm going and all that the only thing that's better is like obviously a great you know uh third strike call third strike off from the ump when the ump really is

does that whole thing and the body in it and like that that sound that's the best but but i agree with you love a good manager toss it's it's fantastic yeah so all you dorks out there that want to have robot umpires and ruining that part of baseball for all of us real baseball fans i just i i counter with well what about managers getting thrown out of the games because it truly is one of the most fun parts of of being a baseball fan it's like yeah i mean go get them it's a bad example in that they wouldn't have robot umpires at first it would just be balls and strikes so that you might you might that toss that toss still would have happened that toss still would have happened so i don't i don care. You're missing my overall point,

which is that the human element of baseball is what makes baseball so great. Oh, what an original point. I've never heard that. You're welcome. Yep. All right. Take back it up, buddy.

Jackie Oldschool over here. Yes. I mean, you have pretty much stripped me of all of my old school ways. I'm trying. I'm trying. I'm trying. Who'd have thunk it? The 40-year-old stripping the 28-year-old.

Yes. My first take of the take back is I find it sickening that Christian Yelich can have three career cycles, and we are still waiting for someone to hit them for the cycle and get david bell officially erased from the phillies yearbook it's one of my favorite weird things of yours how much you care about it i know you hate david bell and i appreciate how much you hate david bell and i appreciate that this is a cross that you bear that every time a player has, I don't know, a double, a homer, and a single, maybe even just a double and a homer, you start thinking,

uh-oh, buddy, is this tonight? Is tonight the night it happens? I will say, here's the thing that I will say to try and uplift your spirits, because it's been a long time of having to bear this cross, this anti-david bell cross i think i so silly i think i think i think bryce harper i think bryce harper dude stop jinxing it no no i'm not gonna say it i'm not gonna say it i'm gonna say i think bryce harper is the best candidate we've had in a while for a guy who has a good shot to do something like that. That's all I'll say.

Yeah. Well, I got two thoughts. Bryce is definitely a good answer. Yeah. But I'm just going to call my shot here. Oh, buddy. I think Segura does it within the next week. but I'm just going to call my shot here. Oh, buddy. I think Segura does it within the next week. I have a weird Segura feeling.

Hold up, hold up, hold up, hold up. Hold up, hold up, hold up. You just told me not to jinx it. Right. Then said Gene's going to do it in a week. All right, cool. I just want to take that 30 seconds or so and just make sure it gets recapped immediately,

like the moment it happens. All right, good. Really, I'm just shooting my shot in a way of like just in case. On the record, on the record. By the way, I'm shocked that the the player that has the the weakest demeanor in the history of baseball to play for the phillies is leading the baseball team that has seven wins on the season that's not surprising god david bell is such a loser i need that i need it to be over i need him to stop being remembered as the last player to hit for the cycle in a Phillies uniform.

It happened in 2004. How has it been almost my entire life? I was 10. The team he hit for the cycle against doesn't even exist anymore. Do you know how annoying that is? No. even exist anymore do you know how annoying that is i i like no i i feel like it but i i absolutely know how annoying it is for you does that make sense all right moving on i think um so so so first thing uh we're having our first highes event of the 2022 calendar, June 11th at Four Fingers Brewing Company.

We're having like cornhole tournaments, like our grand reopening because we opened right before the pandemic. So we haven't been able to like fully kind of get out there. So James and I will be there. The Phil's play at 4.05 that day. I know that'll be hard for James to make on time, but I think he'll be a little bit later to it. Um,

but yeah, we'll be, we'll be hanging out there. First high hopes event of the, uh, of the season. And hopefully as we go along, we can start getting some,

some nights down at the ballpark. But if you want to come hang out and watch some Phil's bus and play some cornhole and have a good time, then June 11th out at Four Fingers Brewing Company. Love it. Can't wait. I like, I literally can't wait.

It's the best. Yeah. You were like, I texted you and I was expecting like kind of trepidation and you were like way too all in. I was on immediately. I didn't even check with Emily. I was just like,

yeah, we're good. All right. I probably should tell her I'm doing it yes um the other thing in my in my take back is like why is matt veerling in a commercial for like endorsing any product have you seen that no no no no no what matt veer you haven't seen the matt veerling car shield commercial no why i stream the games you know i mean so i don't have cables so like i don't see the same commercial yeah but even when i stream it on like we stream on the same thing

because so wow that's surprising normally when i stream i don't really get commercials i get like the um your stream will return or whatever oh well even like even even when i stream my computer i still get the matt veerling car shield commercial maybe i just haven't noticed it for some reason i'm i'm not very observant when it comes to things like this so it wouldn't be the most shocking thing ever either way matt veerling has a car shield commercial and i i can't i can't quite get over it. Pete Alonso also endorses them which shows how much of a dork he is.

I wouldn't buy anything that Pete Alonso endorses but it's just so funny because you watch the beginning of it and it's like it's kind of like oh this is an actor trying to hit and then you see it's Matt Veerling and you're like well that's kind of like, oh, this is an actor trying to hit.

And then you see it's Matt Verling. And you're like, well, that's not a good sign. No, that's a very, very bad sign, my friend. So I need you. The goal between this podcast and the next podcast we do is that I need you to see the Matt Verling Car Shield commercial. Okay. It's done. it's done it's done i consider that i've already watched it for all intents and purposes um real quick real quick before we get off the david bell conversation thing um just because i thought it'd be funny

to check um i just uh found a uh page mlB.com that has like all the players for each team that have hit the cycle. So it has them and it has them in chronological order on each team. So I can see like who the last player for each team was. And I just cycled through to see the years. Cause you were like, why has it been this long in my life? You know, how could it go along? And you're actually mostly right about this.

Uh, most teams have had the cycle in the last like five years like a vast majority of them as you go down um the phillies have had uh the third longest drought jack since their last cycle but here's the wild part the two teams that have longer ones are the cubs and royals okay and the phillies have had it since, like we said, 2004 was the last time. And that is the third longest. Ready for this? Take a guess when the last time the Cubs or the Royals had a cycle. Well, I mean, the fact that you're laying it out this way is 1990.

Yeah, I probably went to. Yes, Jack. Yes. Well done. All right. So for the Royals, it's 1990 and the Cubs Cubs 1993 how about that Mark Grace

with the cycle at least he's a good Cubs take a guess who the 1990 Royal is it's a pretty good one it's George Brett and who was ours David Bell that's my point

honestly I want you this is a dead serious comment it's the most painful drought in the Phillies organization right now oh my god next next whatever's next

are we at the top five is it top five time oh man this is what take back is man that's a take right there yeah that's a take all right buddy that's a take um dude i know we say this like i feel like every podcast at this point but I keep writing it down on my take bag. So it's something I clearly feel like Jose Alvarado innings are going to be the death. I just, I can't say like,

like for a lot of people, I feel like that's familiar innings and I get it. I mean, it is, it's a rollercoaster. There is at no point. I think that the, that Jose Alvarado inning is safe. Like it's a roller coaster there is at no point i think that the that osi alvarado inning is safe like it's just so annoying to me how you have 101 with sink and slider at 92 and it's like

just throw it down the middle man like i i don't know how to also explain it but just throw it down the middle and see what happens it's probably going to work out better for you than it won't the alvarado i i just for my own personal health i need him to not be a philly after the year yeah i couldn't agree more i i zero zero argument with you i have nothing to add add. It's hard palpitations. It's horrendous. And look, Familia, I know that's the legacy with Familia, but he hasn't been that bad with the Phillies.

There's been an inning or two like that, but he's been all right. I mean, he's certainly – I trust him more than Alvarado, that's for sure. So, with you, pal. Definitely. Oh, real quick, just like I feel like there's this whole oh my god james norwood's terrible thing i don't know if i brought this up earlier i i know he didn't pitch well in the mets game but i i i feel pretty good about where we're at with james norwood i think he i think they might have found something there the mets game was a disaster but overall i think he's

going to be a pretty useful bullpen piece for this team going forward. Okay. You know how I feel about James's. I think he's good. Yeah. No, I think he's legitimate. I think people are a little too far down on Norwood. I'm never going to damn someone for one bad outing.

Yeah. And it was brutal. And I get that. But all right. And my last thing I'll take back is I want to put out an official statement on the Mets. So it's just – I feel so great for Mets fans. I really do. Nothing's going to go wrong this year for that baseball team.

There you go. I like what you're doing here. It's truly going to be 162 of pure bliss. And for a franchise that has just been riding so high for so long, there's been so much success with the Mets organization. There definitely hasn't been a hashtag for the last decade of LOL Mets. You know, I feel good that that fan base is is truly it's it's getting put all together this year nothing's gonna go wrong for them and and they truly truly deserve it and and frankly as pedro martinez once said i'm here to call the mets my daddy, and it's over. They are 100% winning the division, and frankly, James,

they might win it by 10-plus games with the way this entire season is going. So, you know, good for the Mets. I'm so proud of them, and I truly look forward to them hoisting the division trophy at the end of this year. All right, I like what you did. I like the attempt. I thought the execution was like a B, a B+. A couple things in there I would have done differently.

I don't want to get into it too much because I don't want to mess with the whole thing. But on the whole, thumbs up for what you're doing. I echo it. I do have one fear. There was a statement in there about, you know, games and divisions that, you know, rang a little true. And that was a little concerning, but I like what you did there. All right. Well, frankly, I'm not sure what you did there all right uh well frankly i'm i'm not sure what

you're talking about um that was just genuinely how i how i feel about this good good all right uh top five all right the top five worst sports things that ever happened to me oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. This is, this is, this, I, I, this might be the most like fritzy thing that you've ever done. Okay, go ahead. I'm ready. I'm in the right head space.

All right. Yeah. Lock in. Yeah. That's yeah. I'm totally locked. Enough sneezing. Um,

I did sneeze a lot of times. It was really nuts. All right. This is my legitimate top five rankings. Number five, I know this will be higher for most people, but for number five is the Ronde Barber Interception. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I was in Lake Tahoe watching it in our hotel room that we had.

And it was the first time I experienced heartbreak in my entire life. And my parents didn't know why I was so upset. And at that point, they probably realized that it was going to be a lifelong sports fandom by their only child, me. Yeah, what a tough night that must have been. Yeah, I'm with you. That would probably be, as you mentioned, higher on my list, for sure. What a tough night that must have been. Yeah, I'm with you. That would probably be, as you mentioned, higher on my list for sure. Okay. Well, maybe this would not be higher than the Rondé Barber pick for you,

but number four is where I have last Thursday night. The Phillies blowing a 7-1 lead. You put that game over an NFC championship game, Jack. Dude, it was 7-1. I love it. You do you, buddy. It's very you. I mean, it's asinine.

I mean, it's asinine. I mean, asinine. But yeah, you do you. I wasn't even... I swear to God, James. I didn't turn the game on until the jd davis like they i was watching and i checked out and then i got the notification on my phone that lindor homer and i was like okay i guess i gotta watch the ninth and and it was just the most slow death thing i've seen in my Phil's fandom. Number three, and ultimately it ended up not being a big deal,

but I'm just thinking in the moment how I felt. The Friday night that I got the notification on my phone that Joel Embiid broke his foot for the second time was like one of the lower points of my... Face, face. No, no, no no no this was this is this is back oh oh yeah i'm an idiot i'm an idiot could this yeah in the moment in the moment too much all right god yes of course yeah in the moment when he broke his foot for the second time and it was like he's gonna miss his entire second year as well um and we wouldn't see the greatness of

joel and b until his third year in the league um it was a it was a one of the worst sports things that that has ever happened to me i was genuinely despondent for a long time okay i could see that i you know i i i could see that it was brutal it was just brutal um the second worst sports thing that has ever happened to me is obviously nick falls winning the super bowl um i i i honestly almost said f you i like it would i went if people go back and listen maybe you can hear me go because i was about to say that to you like no no no it's not happening. We'll not allow this on this podcast. Enough. Enough. Nick Foles is a hero. He's a hero. Sure, I guess.

I don't know. When you were doing the whole, like, I'm asking questions and the man upstairs, right there, you're talking about Nick Foles. That's right there. You're talking about the man who is above us all all is the goat of everything. Okay. Yep. Yep.

Yep. Nicky Back Battler. Nicky played the two greatest games in the history of the franchise in the two biggest games. I don't know, Biggie. By the way, speaking of the Eagles. Outdoiled that goat the greatest ever. Do it. Outdoiled him in a Super Bowl. Oh, did he?

I hadn't heard that before. That's crazy um so speaking of the talking what is happening now speaking of the eagles you said you're i could get to bed early tonight i'm so tired look at what we're doing here yeah we're just doing we're just doing our podcast that's what we do pal um speaking of the eagles uh if you want to listen to some more of our eagles takes you can listen to james on saturday yes at parks check us out one to three or come say hi we'll be at parks yeah yeah well i'll lose another bet which will be delightful um and the number one single worst

sports thing that has ever happened to me i don't i genuinely don't think it'll ever be surpassed in my entire life well let me guess let me guess let me guess is it went to tornacia no it's not it's it's it's game five and two it's game five of 2011 oh yeah that's a great one that's that's a good one i mean you you the whole list was invalidated as soon as you did your foals thing like it's should be you should be taken out back and and made an example of for that i mean wow wow we've truly have reached an hour and six minutes into this podcast what a heresy heresy to say i mean the greatest night of our lives, Jack. Well, it was, I would say it's the third best night of my life.

Yeah. It was up there for me, man. It was like very high on the list. Um, it would go for me. It would go Superbowl, Pavetta's perfect game. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. I smell another top five coming. That's what I said. Um, but Hey, um, that's the top five at five or at 10 30 yeah not at five not even close all right um what did i have i'm like i'm like loopy right now i'm loopy

right i was gonna talk to you at that time house to you but i'm gonna save that for next time i'm gonna tease it for next time we don't know my final thought do you have a final thought because my final thought is actually a question for you if you want okay well my final thought is just look like you belong on the same field yes great yes that honestly yes yes don't don't make us come out of this and say oh they're playing a different sport than we are yeah and as long as we don't get a hector meltdown like 2017 i'll be pretty happy okay i agree yeah that that's a uh a low bar but yes all right uh here's my final thought and it's a question for you because i've thought about this a lot and i i never i always forget to ask you and i actually put it in my notes when i saw your tweet feels like a loss again um does it get tired having to like do the feels like a loss thing and like the other like twitter bits where you

almost feel like you have to tweet at certain points like everyone like like it's your thing like you've got to be the guy who like in a certain type of game at a certain type of time has to be like feels like a loss you gotta get that tweet out like is that does that like it's gotta be so tiring you know me not mr twitter it's like man you really commit and i appreciate it but i feel like it's gotta be tiring well all right so here's the thing this is the one hour and eight minute moment of the podcast right here um so i definitely am tired it's just like it's just like it i'm battling because there's been so many new people that have followed me that just don't get it and it makes me i don't have time to go back and and

and reply to everyone that it's just a joke i'm trying to help the phillies win a baseball game because they're all just like ah you idiot this didn't age well um but i feel like i have to do it because when i do tweet it james like it does feel like a loss like genuinely today felt like they're obviously blowing this game um so yeah it is definitely becoming tired and it's one of those things where i have to just hold up i guess the the weight of the fan base on on my shoulders because if i don't like i just i think it i think it hurts the phillies more than it than it helps them. So I have to do it. I have to sacrifice my own brand. I got to be called a clown.

I got to go through all this just to ensure that my team can win a ball game. I do try to work other things in, like when they have runners in second and third, less than one out or one out on. I'll say, oh, no shot they scored here. Yeah, I've seen it, buddy. Oh, I've seen it. I see all your things that you do. I am trying, though. I am trying to turn it around,

and I've been consistently trying to tweet more like they're winning tonight, hoping that I can start a new trend of not being a bush. Have you ever thought about just not tweeting about those specific things? Yeah, but here's the thing. I've kind of like... I don't even know why I asked the question. I'm like putting my head down on the microphone while you talk. God, I'm so tired.

Well, I want people to know that I'm living and dying the games just like everyone else. I'm with them. We're going through this together. um now the bits are tough um it's funny because the funniest part i will say about the bits is not the not the the the people in my mentions who don't get it the funniest is like i've been doing more more national stuff recently and like those guys that i do shows with will follow me and they're just so confused as to like what is going on like they keep tweeting me like this is a roller coaster like

what is going on like because it's it's just it's just it's it's a different different kind of thing so um i will say it's definitely a burden but it's one that i welcome and i guess i have to continue doing it um but yeah there's a lot i'm excited to figure out what my new bit's gonna be and i hope it's willing this team to a 90 plus yeah all right so there's no better way to end this epic mammoth podcast than with you somehow in a again a 10 seconds span saying that the burden of wins and losses for the philadelphia phillies is on your shoulders yes you said that while also uh somehow in there somehow uh throwing in a humble brag about being a national broadcaster. So I thought that was a really special, special way to end. I really was perfect. So thank you.

By the way, real quick on my national success. Can I go to bed? Can I go to bed? Go. What do you got? What do you got? And my ascension to superstardom is that if you thought my Phillies takes were bad, if you want to listen to me talk about, dude,

like you want to talk about being a mush, James? Like you know how much of a mush I am for the Phillies, and I'm trying to use my powers for good. I have a national gambling show, and I am working. I was working my way through a 0 for 27 streak with same game. Wow. So it's okay. You know, hey, all it takes is one.

I love it, buddy. I love it. Great job tonight. I think you really were. You brought it tonight. Thanks. Yeah. I wish I was going to say I'm going to bed, but I have to edit and post this podcast.

So I will not be going to bed. Oh, that's cute. Guess what? I'm going to go to i have to edit and post this podcast so i will not be going to bed oh that's cute guess what i'm gonna go to bed i hate you all right uh this was fun hold on i got one final thought no you don't no you don't well we just we'll be back follow the analytics whenever they say we'll be back we'll be back he's hold on no i almost cursed again i almost said it again i might just bleep it out i might just say fuck you and i'm believing it out there we go he's rid some oh god he's rid some sultry ceiling All-Star Closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names

to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact, so jump aboard the BIB Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.